Pakistan’s all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has come to the defense of star batter Babar Azam following another disappointing innings in the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Babar’s struggles in the series have raised concerns, but Agha remains confident in his teammate’s ability to bounce back.
Babar’s lean patch in Test cricket has seen his average dip below 45, with his last score over fifty coming in late 2022. In the ongoing series, he has been dismissed for a duck, 22, and 31, contributing to Pakistan’s struggles.
Despite Babar’s poor form, Agha believes it is only a temporary phase. “Babar Azam is a world-class player,” Agha said. “As a cricketer, you go through these phases. He has scored consistently throughout the last five years. Soon, we will see him scoring big runs for Pakistan again.”
Agha emphasized the importance of supporting Babar during this difficult period. “There are 10 other players in the team, you should focus on them,” he said. “It’s fine if he’s struggling. He will return to scoring big runs very soon.”
Babar’s struggles have coincided with Pakistan’s poor performance in the series. After losing the first Test by 10 wickets, Pakistan collapsed from 179/4 to 274 all out in the second Test, highlighting the team’s batting woes.
Despite the setbacks, the team management and Babar’s teammates remain confident in his abilities. Head coach Saqlain Mushtaq has backed Babar to regain his form, while captain Azhar Ali has praised his work ethic and determination.
Babar Azam is regarded as one of Pakistan’s finest batters, and his return to form is crucial for the team’s success. With the third and final Test of the series still to come, Babar will have an opportunity to prove his critics wrong and lead Pakistan to a series victory.
